Pre- and postoperative ICGA exploration in neovascular membrane surgery

Introduction: We performed a retrospective analysis of the use of indocyani ne green angiography (ICGA) pre- and postoperatively in the surgery of neov ascular membranes. Materials and Methods: 81 membranes with retrofovealar extension visible on fluoresceine angiography were operated by vitrectomy and membrane removal from May 1994 to December 1998. Fifty-three had age-related macular degener ation (ARMD), 13 were due to high myopia, and 16 were complications of vari ous inflammatory pathologies. Preoperative evaluation included ICGA, fluore sceine angiography, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy with the study of fixatio n by microperimetry, and, in recent cases, ocular coherence tomography Results: ICGA was a definite help in the indication to operate in all cases of ARMD. For 8 cases of inflammatory pathologies, ICGA identified the neov ascular membrane within the inflammatory site. ICGA has definite prognostic value in membranes complicating high myopia. Post-operatively, ICGA confir med the disappearance of neovascularization in ARMD and in the inflammatory group. Conclusions: ICGA is indispensable in the preoperative evaluation of choroi dal subretinal neovascular membranes. Postoperatively, ICGA can identify re lapses.